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Spartanburg Methodist College to Join AAC as Full Member in 2025-26

Spartanburg Methodist College to Join AAC as Full Member in 2025-26
July 17, 2024

WALESKA, Ga. – The Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) is proud to welcome Spartanburg Methodist College (S.C.) as a full member effective for the 2025-26 season.

The AAC Council of Presidents voted unanimously to approve Spartanburg Methodist for full membership at its annual meeting on June 14.

"The AAC is thrilled with the addition of Spartanburg Methodist College and knows they bring a level of commitment to athletics and student experiences that matches the current membership of the AAC," said Commissioner Bill Popp. "They certainly are a great fit for the AAC.

"I look forward to working with President Scott Cochran and Athletic Director Megan Aiello as they prepare for full membership in 2025-26."

Spartanburg Methodist College was recently approved for NAIA membership and will compete in the NAIA and the Continental Athletic Conference for the 2024-25 campaign. Prior to joining the NAIA in 2024, Spartanburg Methodist was a Division I member of Region 10 of the National Junior College Athletic Association where they won numerous regional, divisional, and national titles. With a successful tradition, SMC teams were a fixture at many of the NJCAA Division I national tournaments. The Pioneers won the NJCAA Division I Men's Soccer national championship in 1994. Many former SMC student-athletes have gone on to continue their careers at the various collegiate levels as well as in the professional ranks in baseball and soccer.

"As SMC transitions to the NAIA and four-year athletics, we are honored to be joining the Appalachian Athletic Conference," said Scott Cochran, president of Spartanburg Methodist College. "We look forward to becoming a competitive member of the conference."

Spartanburg Methodist College sponsors 14 varsity sports with 13 competing in the AAC. The Pioneers will compete in the following AAC championship sports: baseball, men's basketball, women's basketball, men's cross country, women's cross country, men's golf, women's golf, men's soccer, women's soccer, softball, men's indoor track & field, women's indoor track & field, men's outdoor track & field, women's outdoor track & field, and women's volleyball. SMC also competes in beach volleyball as the Pioneers will compete in the Sun Conference.

"We are excited to join the Appalachian Athletic Conference as we begin our journey into NAIA. It will bring an abundance of opportunities for our college, our student-athletes, our coaches, and our fans," said Spartanburg Methodist athletic director Megan Aiello. "This move represents a transition to a conference that will help raise the profile of Spartanburg Methodist and the Upstate Community. This is a huge step as an investment that has prepared us for this moment."

Located in Spartanburg, S.C., Spartanburg Methodist College will become the third member of the AAC from the Palmetto State, joining Columbia College and Columbia International University.

Here are more facts about Spartanburg Methodist College:

  • Founded: 1911
  • Enrollment: 1,000
  • President: Scott Cochran
  • Mascot: Pioneers
  • Colors: Royal Blue and White
  • Institution website: www.smcsc.edu
  • Athletic website: www.gosmcpioneers.com

The AAC evolved from the Volunteer State Athletic Conference (VSAC), an NAIA conference organized in the 1940s and dissolved in the early 1980s when institutions in the eastern part of the state seceded to form the Tennessee Virginia Athletic Conference (TVAC). The Conference name changed to the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) in 2001 with the addition of Bluefield College, Montreat College, Alice Lloyd College, and Union College (now Union Commonwealth University).

Today, the AAC is the largest conference in the NAIA with 16 full members in six southeastern states – Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. The conference will have 14 affiliate members for the 2023-24 season spreading the league's footprint to three additional states – Alabama, Florida, and West Virginia.

In 2024-25, the full members will be Bluefield University, Brenau University, Bryan College, Columbia College, Columbia International University, Johnson University, Kentucky Christian University, Milligan University, Montreat College, University of Pikeville, Point University, Reinhardt University, SCAD Atlanta, St. Andrews University, Tennessee Wesleyan University, Truett McConnell University, and Union Commonwealth University. The affiliate members will be Brewton-Parker College, Carolina University, Georgetown College, Keiser University, Life University, Point University, SCAD Savannah, Southeastern University, St. Thomas University, Talladega University, University of the Cumberlands, Warner University, Webber International University, and West Virginia Institute of Technology.

When Spartanburg Methodist College joins for the 2025-26 campaign, the AAC will grow to 17 full members.